The European Leather Confederation (COTANCE) and industriAll Europe have jointly adopted the new 2026–2030 Social Dialogue Work Programme, aimed at strengthening skills development, sustainability, and global competitiveness within the EU leather industry.

In December 2025, employer and worker representatives from the European leather sector convened in Brussels together with the European Commission to assess the challenges facing the industry in 2025. During the meeting, they formally adopted the 2026–2030 EU Leather Industry Social Dialogue Work Programme and the 2026 Action Plan. The meeting took place at a critical moment for EU industries, which are facing an urgent need for investment and strategic balance to enhance competitiveness and reshape EU industrial policy.

As a core component of the EU textile ecosystem, the leather industry is also affected by these developments. The Secretary General of COTANCE stated:

“We must address the structural challenges that threaten the industry’s competitiveness. The European leather sector remains a sizeable and strategically important industry—with 1,500 companies, 30,000 direct jobs, and a unique role within the circular bioeconomy. This industry deserves recognition, to be heard, and to be supported.”

The newly adopted roadmap is built on three pillars—People, Planet, and Prosperity—and establishes shared commitments to: strengthen skills development, improve working conditions, and enhance social sustainability; optimize the environmental performance and traceability of leather products, and promote science-based policymaking; and reinforce industrial resilience, innovation capacity, and global competitiveness.

During the meeting, participants also discussed upcoming EU regulations with the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). These included the proposed Textile Labelling Regulation (which plans to establish EU-wide authenticity rules for leather and fur products), as well as policies related to ecodesign and the Digital Product Passport in the textile and apparel sector. Other topics included the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Circular Economy Act, and the need to conduct impact assessments on the leather industry under the framework of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

COTANCE and industriAll Europe emphasized the urgent need for stronger scientific evidence, closer cross-sector cooperation, and the full involvement of the leather industry in EU policymaking processes. They also called for the implementation of fair and feasible traceability systems across the entire value chain, as well as policies that better reflect the role of natural materials in Europe’s green transition.

The Secretary General of industriAll Europe stated:

“This programme shows that we are ready to drive a just transition, but we need coordinated action from the EU, a level playing field, and increased investment in skills development and quality jobs. Through strong social dialogue and our long-standing cooperation with COTANCE, we will continue to defend these jobs and jointly shape an industrial future that respects and protects workers, placing them at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness.”

Source: China Leather Industry Association